By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York Tel. 718-991-3161

You should know that since the New York State Democratic Convention has come to an end, the expectations and aspirations of New York's minority community are gone with the wind.

You should know that even though Hispanics have become a great voting bloc in New York State, no Hispanic has ever held a statewide office. You should also know that there is no diversity in New York State's 2014 all-white state-wide Democratic ticket. The candidates are: Andrew Cuomo, Kathleen Hochul, Eric Schneiderman, and Tom DiNapoli.

Democrats in New York's minority community have been praying that Governor Andrew Cuomo would consider and select a running-mate from the distinguished talent we have in the Black, Hispanic, and Asian community. We expected at the very least that our Democratic Governor would show some ethnic sensitivity, or even respect, and include someone from our communities to balance the ticket.

While some may say that there is no problem for Andrew Cuomo to select a white woman as his Democratic running-mate - in an attempt at diversity - this particular choice for Lieutenant Governor demonstrates a hostility to the aspirations of New York's Hispanic community.

In 2010, the Village Voice reported: "Hochul was one of the leading opponents of Governor Eliot Spitzer's 2007 proposal to grant driver's licenses to people without regard to immigration status. She even threatened to summon sheriff's deputies if undocumented immigrants appeared at her DMV office."

You should know that Kathleen Hochul, the person Andrew Cuomo chose for Lieutenant Governor is a well-known professional advocate against immigrants. Does anyone believe that she will support the DREAM Act that we in New York State's Democratic community are fighting for!

Our community has been slapped by Governor Cuomo twice: first, that no minority has been selected to serve with him at the top of the ticket; and second, that a person who adamantly opposes immigration rights was selected to serve in that slot.

Kathleen Hochul demonstrates a hostility toward undocumented New Yorkers that is unrivaled since the time when Arizona passed a law requiring law enforcement to ferret out the immigration status of anyone they suspected of being an "illegal alien."

Governor Andrew Cuomo says that he supports the DREAM Act, but he picked an anti-immigrant politician who has a record of opposing immigration rights. We know that Andrew Cuomo and the top of the Democratic ticket will come to our Black and Hispanic communities asking for our support. Their expectation will be that we, as faithful and obedient Democrats, will go out of our way to let them know how they can count on us to support them.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the event that Governor Andrew Cuomo is re-elected, and if for some reason, he is no longer able to serve and Kathleen Hochul takes his place, there go our dreams ... gone with the wind.

Your disappointment about Governor Como's selected running mate is clear. Perhaps you could help us better appreciate the issues by clarifying a few things:
1. You state that "the expectations and aspirations of New York's minority community are gone with the wind." Presumably, this is only temporary? Presumably it only applies to the hopes and aspirations for a different outcome to the Democratic Convention? 2. You state that the community had been praying that Democratic Governor Como "would show some ethnic sensitivity, or even respect, and include someone from "our" communities (presume black, hispanic or asian - what would happen if a white said "our community?) to balance the ticket". No where is anything said about those with the necessary qualifications for the position. Please, educate us - please take the time to list the names and qualifications of those who you believe should have been offered the Lieutenant Governor's job. (3) Why is the act of not chosing a Lieutenant Governor of Hispanic descent a hostile act? If I choose a chocolate chip cookie over an oatmeal raisen cookie, I am not acting in a hostile manner towards the oatmeal raisen cookie; I am merely expressing my own personal taste all other things being equal. As you have not provided us with any information about the qualifications of alternative candidates, all other things being equal, we should not assume that Governor Coumo's choice for Lieutenant Governor was, in fact, a hostile act. (4). You cite a few lines from a Village Voice article regarding Kathleen Hochul's stance on immigration and issuing driver's licenses to immigrants. No where is their any mention the legistlature's concern about issuing driver's licenses (used for legal identification, to clear security for domestic airline travel) to illegal immigrants - and I believe that was the issue. I do not believe that one can conclude that one is against immigration if they do not believe that illegal immigrants should have driver's licences. Perhaps I am wrong here, and again, you would be so kind as to take the time to educate us.